NEW DELHI: The government has announced a judicial probe into reports of lobbying by supermarket chain Walmart, giving in to the Opposition's demand even as the US-based retailer has denied "improper conduct" in India to gain market access into the country.

Walmart's local joint venture, Bharti Walmart, on Wednesday said the $25 million (about Rs 136 crore) cost incurred by the parent company on lobbying was restricted to its expenses on American officials in the US.

Earlier in the day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told Lok Sabha, "Today, I would like to inform the House that the government will appoint a retired judge to hold an inquiry into the media reports concerning Walmart." He added the inquiry would be time-bound to inform the House of its results as fast as possible.

The minister's statement came a day after parties, including BSP and SP that lend outside support to the Congress-led ruling coalition, joined the Opposition in demanding a judicial probe into reports of Walmart's recent disclosure of expenses incurred on lobbying between July and September. BSP and SP joined hands with the Opposition just days after bailing out the government in Parliament during voting on the decision to allow foreign retailers into the country.

'Disclosure Nothing to Do with Indian Officials'

The Opposition had alleged that Walmart had possibly bribed its way into India. Bharti Walmart, however, stated: "This disclosure has nothing to do with political or governmental contacts with Indian government officials. It shows that our business interest in India was discussed with the United States government officials - along with 50 or more other topics during a three-month period."

Walmart said it had merely followed the disclosure norm in the United States that requires companies spending more than $11,500 a year on lobbying to file a quarterly report with the authorities.

"Our Washington office naturally had discussions with US government officials about a range of trade and investment issues that impact our businesses in the US and worldwide and disclosed this in accordance with the law," the company stated.

Even as Bharti Walmart has been facing an unrelenting political outcry ever since the US supermarket chain initiated a bribery probe in India, Walmart CEO Mike Duke has said he is "patient" and has expressed confidence that things will shape up for the company in the country.

"I still believe that, in India, things will get worked out. I am confident that (India) is a country that has such an opportunity to help both the farmers (and) the consumers all the way up to the supply chain," Duke said at an event in New York.